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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

3 newspaper clippings with Cole Genealogy, Bridgton, Maine

3 little tidbit newspaper clippings relating to the Cole family of Maine. I'm exploring these and their relationship to one another as I go along.

First we have a tiny scrap announcing the marriage of Miss Gertrude Cole and Mr. George P. Ayer, which I'm assuming took place in Portland, Maine, or vicinity, as Portland is the residence each gave when their marriage was recorded. Gertrude used her initials N. G., which threw me off at first. I found them when I used the groom's name. Their marriage info can be seen on the Maine Marriages online database - it took place on 20 May 1905.

The mid-sized piece is an obituary for Miss Bessie Cole:

"Miss Bessie Cole, a student at the Potter Academy, and one of the most estimable young ladies of the town of Sebago, died on Saturday the 21st inst. of pneumonia, aged 21. The funeral was on Monday and notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather was largely attended. The service was conducted by the Rev. E. H. Jenkyns, pastor of the Congregational church. 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord'"

The largest clipping is an obituary for B. Frank Cole:

"Bridgton, Oct. 12, 1910, Special - The funeral services of B. Frank Cole of this place, who died Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 4th, as a result of injuries received from a fall while at his work in the Pondicherry Mill, were held at his late residence on Meadow street Friday at 2 p.m. and although a rainy afternoon, a large number of people were present. The services were conducted by the Rev. S. Elfred Leech, pastor of the Methodist Church, and his two favorite hymns, 'When the roll is called up yonder' and 'I shall know Him' were sung by Mrs. Jordan and Miss Laura Long. A very high floral tribute was paid. [There were thirty-six separate contributions, which the family have carefully listed with names of donors.]

"Mr Cole, who was in his 59th year, was a much respected citizen and one who will be missed from the community. Besides his widow he leaves two sons, Arthur A. and F. Owen of Bridgton, and three daughters, Stella of Bridgton, Mrs. George P. Ayer and Mrs. Warren K. Webber of Portland."

So, we now know that Gertrude was the daughter of B. Frank Cole. I found a Benjamin Frank Cole (no doubt Benjamin Franklin Cole), born about 1854 in Maine, in the 1910 Census for Bridgton, Maine; he's living with his wife Alma and sons Arthur and Owen. The Census was enumerated on April 22 and 23, 1910, so his fatal accident occurred after those dates.

Further research will have to wait, as ancestry.com is undergoing maintenance today.

If you have any insights into the Cole family, please contact me. Thanks for stopping by!